Those in the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole" get a 50 percent discount on name-brand prescription drugs and a 7 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.

Insurance coverage won't have dollar limits on the health care covered in your lifetime.

Essential health benefits such as emergency services, maternity and newborn care and prescription drugs will be included in every insurance plan.

When you shop and enroll in insurance, you'll be able to get a summary of the benefits and health coverage offered by the plan, with easy-to-understand descriptions and examples that explain the benefits.

The new law will give access to coverage to every person, despite any preexisting conditions or other issues that may have prevented you from getting health insurance in the past.

Young adults can now stay on their parent's health plan up to age 26.

The biggest change will come in 2014, when almost everyone will be required to have health insurance.

Starting in 2014, you will be able to buy private health insurance if you want it, or see if you qualify for a government health plan.

Any plan you choose will allow you to pick the primary care doctor or pediatrician of your choice from your health plan's provider network.

You will also have access to preventive services and screenings without paying anything out of pocket, to help you stay healthier preventing health problems, or catching them before they become much more serious.

How does the new health care law help me?

The Affordable Care Act adds some benefits that help everyone. If you haven't been able to afford insurance in the past, it makes it possible to find affordable coverage and to help pay for it through subsidies and tax credits. If you haven't been able to qualify for in

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What’s happening in 2014?

The new health care law was passed in 2010. The new law expands health insurance to include more benefits for more people, and is aimed at making coverage affordable and available to the millions of uninsured in our state. 

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What if I can’t afford health insurance?

You can expect to see more choices in health plans in 2014 that may allow you to find coverage that meets your needs and stays within your budget. You also may be able to get a new kind of tax credit that lowers your monthly premium. Depending on your situation, you may

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What is this penalty I keep hearing about if I don’t sign up for health insurance by 2014?

If you don’t have health insurance in 2014, you could have to pay a penalty on your federal income tax. In 2014, the penalty for individuals is the higher of two amounts — $95 or 1 percent of income. These penalties increase each year.

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I have heard that October is important. What is so important about October?

The first open enrollment period for buying insurance on the health insurance marketplaces begins October 1. At that time you will be able to go online and shop the different insurance plans available to you. The site will also offer a calculator to help you figure out

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I heard Texas doesn’t have an Exchange. Does that mean I don’t have to purchase health insurance?

Texas won't have a state exchange in 2014, so Texans will use the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. The plans you buy on the federal marketplace will still be offered by health insurers providing coverage in Texas, using physicians and hospitals in your community.

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Now that I know Texas is a part of the federal Exchange and that open enrollment starts in October, what do I need to do to get ready?

There are a number of steps you can take to be ready for enrollment in October:

Step 1: Learn about different types of health insurance. You’ll be able to go to the new online Marketplace to compare health plans offered by all participating health insurers in your area

My 22-year old son just graduated from college, but doesn’t have a job. Will the new health care law help him be covered?

Under the new health care law, you’ll be able to cover your adult children on your plan up to the age of 26. Most limits to keeping your young adult son or daughter on your coverage are removed, meaning they don’t have to be a full-time student, live with you, be disabl

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My mom got turned down for insurance because of her diabetes. Will she be able to get covered under the new law?

In the past, it was often hard for some people to get health insurance unless they were part of a group. Individuals who had a chronic illness, were pregnant, older or more likely to need care couldn’t get coverage or had a plan that didn’t provide coverage of their med